Improving Maternal Newborn and Child Health in Mali - Response to COVID-19

This project builds on a previous project that supported the Malian Red Cross’ efforts towards the Government of Mali’s plans to reduce maternal and child mortality in the regions of Koulikoro and Sikasso. The delivery of health services in times of stability as well as in times of emergency is critical in Mali where there are significant governance and security challenges and where there are low levels of economic and social development. This project is providing additional funds in response to the immediate needs of the COVID-19 pandemic to support the national health system efforts while safeguarding the provision of critical reproductive maternal newborn and child health services for women and girls. Project activities include: (1) training health staff and community health workers in targeted areas of Sikasso to safely and effectively respond to epidemics especially COVID-19; (2) rehabilitating and/or installing water sanitation and hygiene facilities in targeted health facilities/communities in Sikasso; (3) installing hand washing stations in highly vulnerable communities and high-risk areas such as markets churches mosques borders entry points; (4) providing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) materials and personal protection equipment to health centers/integrated community case management ( iCCM) sites in Sikasso to effectively prevent COVID-19; (5) adapting current communication strategies including radiobroadcasting messages to demystify rumours and provide information on prevention protection and coping practices related to COVID-19; (6) delivering targeted communication for couples pregnant women adolescents the elderly and disabled through household visits and community demonstrations by Red Cross volunteers community health workers and gender champions accompanied by religious leaders and community health associations; (7) providing adapted psycho-social support to Covid-19 patients and their relatives in Sikasso; (8) training and su

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved delivery of essential health services to mothers pregnant women newborns and children under the age of five throughout stability and emergencies; (2) improved utilization of essential health services and preventative practices by mothers pregnant women newborns and children under the age of five throughout stability and emergencies; and (3) increased use of essential MNCH data by MNCH decision makers.